A group of Army military working dogs (MWDs) and handlers practised their often dangerous and unpredictable work in the red dust of a Northern Territory Police training facility at Rakula.
The Irondog K9 Adaptive Deployment Workshop at the end of October was attended by a group of Army dogs and handlers, members of the NT Police Force Dog Operations Unit and a handler from the NT Department of Corrections.
Workshop manager Captain Jeremy Wikner said the activity followed on from the success of the first one in Townsville last year.
"We brought in an instructor from Irondog K9, Paul Ludwig, and two professional K9 decoys. They were able to provide scenarios that focus on building the MWD capability in engaging threats in complicated and high-pressure scenarios," Captain Wikner said.
"The workshop is based on contemporary training methodologies with realistic scenarios that allow handlers to design innovative bite work threat scenarios [methods that allow dogs to bite and hold a person on command].
"It was also an opportunity for MWD handlers to work with counterparts in civilian police forces and other agencies to ensure that the Australian Army remains a world-class capability and at the leading edge of military working dog best practice."
'Army continues to develop this important capability with industry partners who are providing contemporary and world-class knowledge.'
Lieutenant Colonel Ricky Schmidt, of Army Headquarter's Land Survivability Program, said the workshop developed important technical skills and knowledge.
"One of the aims of these activities is to reduce risk to the MWDs by upskilling MWD handlers in handling, welfare and the responsiveness of MWDs to commands when conducting tasks in high-risk environments," Lieutenant Colonel Schmidt said.
"Importantly, the program also allows MWD handlers to design tests that better assess prospective candidate dogs for their suitability for service in the ADF.
"Army continues to develop this important capability with industry partners who are providing contemporary and world-class knowledge.
"It's great for our handlers and their dogs to be a part of that to ensure they are doing their job effectively, but also as safely as possible in the circumstances they are called to."
